Silver-white evergreen misery

Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Silver-green triangular leaf misery

Credit: Abbamouse

Inner plant green leaf silver purple

Credit: Maja Dumat

Purple flower misery

Credit: Mark Marathon

Tradescantia zebrina, misery in color

Native to the forests of Mexico and Colombia, misery, Tradescantia zebrina in Latin, brings color to our living rooms. This member of the Commelinaceae family can be grown as a houseplant or ground cover in regions with mild winters.

How to recognize Tradescantia zebrina miseria?

Miseria is a perennial plant growing from 15 to 60 centimetres high. In the wild, it has a creeping habit. If you grow it in suspension, it will adopt a drooping habit similar to that of Epipremnum aureum or chain of Hearts.

Misery's leaves are between six and ten centimeters long. Oval, alternate and slightly hairy, they encase the fleshy stem. The zebra stripes on the foliage give the plant its name. The green leaves have silvery stripes along the edges and fine lines parallel to the midrib. Initially purple, they turn light green. The underside of the leaf blades is a solid magenta red.

Three-petaled pink flowers enhance the plant's bloom. In nature, buds open in summer. Indoors, the phenomenon is rarer.

The sap of Tradescantia zebrina is toxic, particularly to cats. However, it is also believed to have medicinal virtues. Its leaves and roots are used in a number of remedies. Misery, for example, is used to treat stomach ailments.

Our maintenance tips

The more light your Misery receives, the more its colors will shine through. Give it a bright spot, but keep it out of direct sunlight. Its favorite spot? Behind a curtained window. On summer mornings and evenings, you can even put it out on your windowsill.

Watering

Les Misères can withstand neither drought nor excess water.

Before watering, check the condition of the potting soil. The surface must be at least one centimeter dry.

Spray

Les Misères love humidity. Spray their foliage to increase humidity and combat pest invasion.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Tradescantia zebrina to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Obtain a pierced pot one size larger than the previous one. Place a bed of clay balls or non-limestone gravel at the bottom to promote drainage. Then fill with a nutrient-rich potting soil, such as green plant compost, to within three centimetres of the rim. This way, water won't overflow during watering.

To create a close environment that will remind your plant of its natural surroundings, you can place its pot on a saucer filled with wet clay balls. They'll diffuse a much-appreciated humidity!

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Supplement watering with a houseplant fertilizer to promote the development of your Tradescantia zebrina.

If you have just repotted, wait six to eight weeks before starting to fertilize.

Prune

To control the growth of creepers on your Misery, you can prune the stems by about a third. Cut with a clean, sharp tool (pruning shears, scissors...) above a healthy leaf. Pruning also helps maintain a compact habit.

Remove dead leaves at the base.

Pinch

Pinch your Tradescantia zebrina during its growing season.

To encourage stem branching, pinch off the terminal buds.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using a clean, sharp tool, take a healthy stem of about ten centimeters and remove the lower leaves. You can dip the base in a cutting hormone to accelerate growth.

Place your cutting in a glass filled with water at room temperature. Make sure you submerge the knots, which will form the roots.

Place in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to keep it clear until the roots appear.

Diseases / Threats

Information

Family	Commelinaceae - Commelinaceae
Type	Misery - Tradescantia
Species	Misery - Tradescantia zebrina
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Clay soil Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous Hanging plants
Tags	Beginner Increvable Toxic
Origin	Central America
Hardiness (USDA)	10a
Leaf color
Flower color